Most
gay clients
seek counseling for problems that do not have to do
with their sexual orientation, yet being gay may have a large impact on
the
“mainstream” life issues they are facing. For
example,
deciding whether and when to start a family is
a dilemma many couples (and singles) face; yet the issues involved in
having children
are obviously much more complex for gay and lesbian clients. Sexuality
may also
influence problems all people share, like depression or anxiety, in
specific ways--dealing
with prejudice, coming out to one's family, and sorting out an
“authentic” sense-of-self in the face of social
expectations and pressures. It is important to find a therapist
that understands and is comfortable with dealing with such issues.

Transgender

The
concept of
the two-gender system is confining and simplistic and
many individuals fall somewhere in between the polarities. Many
therapists have been
trained to believe that anyone who exhibits mixed feelings about their
gender identity is
either transexual or transvestite and that these two types of
“disorders” never overlap. It does not consider the
genetic
male who decides to take hormones and live with a
female identity but does not want gender reassignment surgery. Or the
genetic female
who wants to dress and live as a male without medical intervention at
all.

Many transgender
clients come for counseling
to determine their own
thoughts and feelings about their gender. Dr. Haddox has experience in
helping
clients untangle the complex factors that go into determining where
they may be at any point
on the gender continuum. For clients who do want to transition, Dr.
Haddox works
within the Harry Benjamin ethical guidelines and with other medical
professionals to
help them move forward in their journey.